It's official–the 2009/2010 budget will be presented in September. And some measure of "phased expenditure" will be in force in the upcoming spending package, says Trade Minister Mariano Browne who is also a Minister in the Ministry of Finance.
Browne made the disclosure at yesterday's weekly Government news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's. In responses to questions pertaining to the local economy and statements made by Central Bank Governor Ewart Williams on Tuesday, Browne confirmed, at least three times, that the budget would be presented in September. On several of the queries pertaining to Williams' views on the 2010 budget, Browne limited his replies on budget contents, noting that the package was still in the planning stages and that it was being presented in September.
"The budget speech is in September and I'm sure that you'll be able to get all of the details then...we're in the planning stages now," he said in response to a query on how tight the Government's budgeting would be. Browne said the Government had already stated that the 2010 budget would be difficult to plan–as Williams had noted. He said the Government's budget approach would be more judicious. He noted that "one could not spend more than one earned."
Browne said one item that was expected to fall into the new budget would be half of the $583 million purchase price for the first two of four helicopters which Government was acquiring. He said the other half of the payment would be in the 2011 budget. Other ministers at yesterday's press conference–Marlene McDonald and Christine Kangaloo–spoke about plans which costs were also likely to be in the budget. These include a $272 million "stimulus plan" for small contractors to deliver 92 community centres across T&T in 2010 and a $70 million increase to stipend payments in the OJT training programme. "There may be a greater emphasis on phasing in expenditures...so I think that's what we can look forward to."
